Aleksandr Romanovich Belyaev

A Soviet science fiction writer. After working as a kindergarten teacher and librarian, he published his first full-length novel, The Head of Professor Dwell, in 1925, and continued to write ever since. This work, and Amphibian Man, published three years later, are masterpieces that deal with themes of live animal experiments, organ transplants, and biological improvements to humans. Other masterpieces include A Leap into Nothing (1933) and Kates the Satellite (1939), which deal with the theme of space travel. While his works often contain extraordinary ideas, they are also mixed with an old-fashioned ideology that comes from the political system. He wrote over 50 works during his lifetime, but was not well-received, and from the late 1950s he was reevaluated in the Soviet Union and became known as the father of Soviet science fiction.

[Jun Atsugi]

"Fukuro Ippei's translation of 'A Jump into Nothingness' (included in 'World Science Fiction Collection 8', 1969, Hayakawa Publishing)" ▽ "Iida Norikazu's translation of 'Amphibian Man' (included in 'World Science Fiction Literature for Boys and Girls Collection 8', 1971, Akane Publishing)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ソ連のSF作家。幼稚園の教師や図書館の司書などの職業を経て1925年、処女長編『ドウェル教授の首』を発表、以後文筆活動を続ける。この作品や3年後の『両棲(りょうせい)人間』などは、生体実験や臓器移植手術、あるいは人間の生物学的改良をテーマにした代表作。『無への跳躍』（1933）や『人工衛星ケーツ』（1939）などは宇宙旅行をテーマにした代表作。非凡な着想が多々みられる反面、政治体制からくるイデオロギーの古めかしさが混在している。生前50点余の作品を書いたが不遇で、50年代後期からソ連でも再評価され、ソ連SFの父といわれてきた。

［厚木　淳］

『袋一平訳『無への跳躍』（『世界SF全集8』所収・1969・早川書房）』▽『飯田規和訳『両棲人間』（『少年少女世界SF文学全集8』1971・あかね書房）』

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